French Briefing

The Battle of Sacile 16th April, 1809

“In one day I will retake all of the territory I have abandoned at the moment.”

- Eugène de Beauharnais (15th April, 1809)

Intelligence BriefingAustrian Preparations:

In the early part of 1809, the Austrian Empire of Emperor Francis II determined to go to war against Emperor Napoleon I's First French Empire. Austria massed her main army in the Danube valley under Archduke Charles. Though Italy was considered a minor theatre, Charles and the Hofkriegsrat (the Austrian High Command) assigned two corps to the Army of Inner Austria and placed GdK Archduke John in command.

At the beginning of the war, John controlled FML Chasteler's VIII Korps of 24,500 infantry and 2,600 cavalry, and FML Ignaz Gyulai's IX Korps of 22,200 infantry and 2,000 cavalry. John planned to have the VIII Korps move southwest from Villach and the IX Korps advance northwest from Ljubljana. The two forces would unite near Cividale del Friuli.

Before the Austrians launched the war, the Tyrol flared in a spontaneous revolt. The German-speaking Tyrolese under leaders like Andreas Hofer began driving out the Bavarian garrisons. Desiring to aid the rebellion, Charles ordered John to send Chasteler and 10,000 Austrian troops to help the Tyrolese. Ignaz Gyulai's brother Albert replaced Chasteler as the commander of a now reduced VIII Armeekorps.

Intelligence BriefingFrench Reaction:

Aware that Austria probably intended to make war, Napoleon reinforced the Army of Italy under Eugène de Beauharnais, building the French component up to a strength of six infantry and three cavalry divisions. Many of these "French" troops were Italians, since portions of northwest Italy had been annexed to France. In addition, Viceroy Eugène formed three Italian infantry divisions. The Franco-Italian army counted 70,000 troops, though they were somewhat scattered across northern Italy.

Before 1809, Eugène never led so much as a regiment into battle, yet Napoleon entrusted him with command of the Army of Italy. To prepare his stepson Eugène for the role, the emperor advised him how to defend Italy in many detailed letters. He wrote that if the Austrians invaded in superior numbers, the viceroy was to give up the Isonzo River line and fall back to the Piave River. The emperor noted that the Adige river was a particularly important strategic position. Napoleon did not believe Austria would attack in April, and in any case, did not wish to provoke his enemy by concentrating his armies. Therefore, Eugène's army remained somewhat dispersed.

Initial Movements:

Archduke John's army invaded Italy on the 10th April 1809, with the VIII Korps advancing through Tarvisio and IX Korps crossing the middle Isonzo. After unusually rapid marching for an Austrian army, Albert Gyulay's column captured Udine on the 12th April, with Ignaz Gyulai's forces not far behind. Planning on concentrating his army behind the Tagliamento river, Eugène directed Seras and Broussier to slow down the Austrians. But the two divisions were unable to halt John's advance. Even so, Eugène believed his army was strong enough to beat the Archduke in battle, so he ordered his divisions to assemble at Sacile on the Livenza River.

By the 14th April, Eugène had massed six divisions near Sacile with Lamarque's infantry and General of Division Charles Randon de Pully's dragoons still distant. At this time, the Italian Guard, Durutte's infantry, and General of Division Emmanuel Grouchy's dragoons were still assembling on the Adige. Before the war, Eugène proposed to Napoleon that his infantry be formed into three corps, but the emperor had not replied to this request. Because of this, Eugène’s army would fight the coming battle as a collection of Divisions, which had a detrimental effect on command control. The Austrians reached Valvasone on the evening of the 14th April. Frimont's advance guard was in the lead, with VIII Korps right behind. Slowed by the rainy weather, the IX Korps lagged behind.

Intelligence BriefingBattle of Pordenone:

On the 15th April, Eugène ordered his army forward across the Livenza. The French divisions of Grenier and Barbou moved through Sacile, while Seras' French and General of Division Filippo Severoli's Italian division crossed at Brugnera and moved toward the village of Tamai. Broussier's division crossed the Livenza to the north of Sacile. Meanwhile, General of Division Louis Michel Antoine Sahuc's rear guard consisting of light cavalry and the 35th Line Infantry Regiment deployed 12km to the east of Sacile near Pordenone. Sahuc's patrols brought word that Archduke John's troops were across the Tagliamento, but because Seras and Broussier had not kept a close watch on the advancing Austrians during their withdrawal, Eugène was unsure of his enemy's strength.

Thanks to his scouts, Archduke John had a clear picture of his opponent's army. He ordered Frimont's advance guard to attack the French soldiers at Pordenone in the morning. At 6:00am, the Austrians clashed with Sahuc's cavalry patrols. GM Joseph von Wetzel's Grenz brigade attacked across the Noncello stream on the east side of the town, attracting the attention of the defending infantry. When GM Josef von Schmidt's line brigade came down from the northeast, the French were compelled to stretch the 35th Line to cover the north side of town. Sahuc formed his horsemen north of the town, hoping to catch the Austrian attackers in the flank. But it was the French cavalry who were flanked when Frimont fell on them with four regiments of cavalry, routing them. Without cavalry support, the infantry in the town were forced to pull out.

At Pordenone, the Austrians lost 221 killed and wounded plus 32 captured out of a total of 5,900 men and 15 guns. French losses were much heavier, 500 killed and wounded, plus 2,000 men and 4 guns captured out of 4,800 troops and 6 guns engaged.

Opening of Battle of Sacile:

Aware of the French buildup at Tamai to the southeast of his positions, Archduke John posted Albert Gyulai's VIII Korps and Frimont's Advance Guard to defend Pordenone and Porcia. Ignaz Gyulai's IX Korps, which had arrived late in the day of the 15th, bivouacked just west of Pordenone. While his left flank held off the expected Franco-Italian attacks on Porcia, John planned to send Ignaz Gyulai first to Roveredo in Piano then southwest in a lunge at Fontana-Fredda and Ranzano.

Still unaware of the presence of the IX Armeekorps, Eugène believed he faced only 20,000 Austrians. He boasted, "In one day I will retake all of the territory I have abandoned at the moment. The French began their attack on Porcia at 9am, it is at this point the scenario begins.

Order of BattleCommander-in-Chief: Eugène Rose de Beauharnais, Viceroy of Italy

Order of BattleArmy of Italy - Right Wing:

1st Division: GdD Seras

1st Brigade - Gareau

2nd Brigade - Roussel

1st (Italian) Division: GdD Severoli

1st Brigade - Bonfanti

2nd Brigade - Peyri

Attached Cavalry:

Light (Chasseur) Cavalry Brigade - Pagès

Order of BattleArmy of Italy - Centre:

2nd Division: GdD Brousier

1st Brigade - Dessaix

2nd Brigade - Dutruy

3rd Division: GdD Grenier

1st Brigade - Abbe

2nd Brigade - Teste

Attached Cavalry:

Light (Chasseur) Cavalry Brigade - Sahuc

Light (Hussar) Cavalry Brigade - Sahuc

Order of BattleArmy of Italy - Left Wing:

4th Division: GdD Barbou

1st Brigade - Moreau

2nd Brigade - Roize

Scenario Map (6ft x 4ft):

Pordenone is a town. It is 2BW x 2BW in size, and can be garrisoned.

Vigonovo, Fontana-Freda, Ronche, Talaponedo, Porcia, Palse, & Rovoredo are villages. All are 1BW in size, and can be garrisoned.

All streams can only be crossed by Infantry & Cavalry (difficult movement). Artillery units can only cross at the Fontana-Freda bridge.

French DispositionsNo. 1: 1st (Italian) Division - Severoli

Setup as indicated on the map 1BW south of Palse.

No. 2: 1st Division - Seras with Eugène attached

Setup as indicated on the map 3BW south-east of Palse

No. 3: 2nd & 3rd Divisions - Brousier & Grenier

Available for deployment as reinforcements, at any time, on the map edge south-west of Fontana-Freda.

No. 4: 4th Division - Barbou

Available for deployment as reinforcements, at any time, on the map edge west of Vigonovo.

Scenario NotesFrench Special Rules:

No. 1: All French units can use the “rally” rule (pg. 87)

No. 2: Each of the following villages count as 1x “Broken Unit” when calculating the Austrian morale: Porcia, Talaponedo, Pordenone.

No. 3: Each of the following villages count as 1x “Broken Unit” when calculating the French morale: Palse, Ronche, Fontana-Freda.

E.g. 2x broken units plus Ronche & Fontana-Freda in the hands of the Austrians equals a total of 4 against the French morale.

Note: It is possible for the Austrian & French morale to collapse by cumulative losses of villages.

Victory Conditions:

Austrian: The Austrians win by holding Fontana-Freda & Palse at the same time, or by breaking the French morale before the end of the game.

French: The French win by holding Porcia, Talaponedo & Palse at the same time, or by breaking the Austrian morale before the end of the game.

Momentum : French = 2 dice, Austrians = 2 dice.

Game turns : The game starts at 09:00 (turn 1) and ends at 19:00 (turn 31). One turn is about 20mins.